Gibraltar has criticised Spain’s efforts to end chaos at the border calling
plans to introduce a 'fast track' for Spanish workers on the Rock as
'discriminatory'

Spain’s government announced on Tuesday it planned to introduce a “fast lane” for workers resident in Spain with jobs in Gibraltar in a bid to reduce traffic queues at the border to the tiny British Overseas Territory.

The measure, which follows the EU recommending both sides work to ease traffic flow at the frontier, is designed to limit disruption for commuters who travel to Gibraltar each day for employment.

Spain’s Tax Administration Agency said it would spend 5.3 million euros to establish the “fast lane” using bar code readers and turnstiles to check passes issued by those who could prove they are resident in Spain but have regular work in Gibraltar.

An estimated 6,000 workers cross the border into Gibraltar each day.

Gibraltar’s government immediately criticised the plans as not going far enough, claiming freedom of movement should be a privilege enjoyed by all.

Noting the new plans for the border, a statement issued by Gibraltar’s government said: “It is expected that in practice this will apply mainly to EU nationals who live in Spain and who work in Gibraltar - the bulk of whom are Spanish.”

“The Government considers that any proposed solution towards a free flowing frontier must also encompass EU nationals and others who are not workers, like tourists and residents on both sides, whose right to freedom of movement continues to be undermined by Spain.

“The reality is that the Spanish authorities make life difficult for people and vehicles crossing the border for political reasons and because they want to. All that Madrid has to do is to improve the flow rate of cars and persons and operate proper red and green channels. This alone will reduce waiting times to cross the frontier.”

The ongoing row over Spanish border controls imposed on those crossing between the Rock and the Spanish town of La Linea escalated last summer when Spain began imposing crippling checks that resulted in traffic queues of up to eight hours in the summer heat.

The checks were seen as politically motivated and in retaliation for Gibraltar installing an artificial fishing reef off its coast – in territorial waters disputed by Spain.

Spain claims the checks are essential in preventing tobacco smuggling but residents on the Rock, which has a population of 30,000, claim it is the latest example of bullying tactics from Madrid and complain they feel under siege.

Since the start of 2013 there have been more than 600 illegal incursions by Spanish vessels in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters resulting in repeated official complaints.

Earlier this month the Spanish ambassador in London was summoned to the UK Foreign Office to answer a complaint over Gibraltar, the fifth such demarche since the conservative government of Mariano Rajoy took office two and half years ago.